“My honest opinion is it’s a huge hire, because he bridges some eras,” former Tech receiver Field Scovell said.

Kliff Kingsbury wasn’t perfect as a Texas Tech quarterback. Even while he was throwing 95 touchdown passes, some fell incomplete and others were intercepted, too.

But as a coach, he’s the perfect choice at the perfect time in the eyes of quite a few former Tech coaches and players.

“My honest opinion is it’s a huge hire, because he bridges some eras,” former Tech receiver Field Scovell said. “He was recruited and played for Spike (Dykes), just knocked it out of the park with (Mike) Leach and then has had success on his own. I guess the fan base was fractured, but he just unites all that and he’s one of our own.

“He even said it: To him, it’s personal. I don’t know that we’ve heard that around here in a long, long time. You’ve got to go back to Spike for a guy that cares about this place as much.”

Scovell, now a Lubbock orthopedic surgeon, was among several former Tech players to attend the combination news conference/pep rally the university staged Friday to introduce Kingsbury.

Former Tech guard Cody Campbell called Kingsbury “exactly what our program needed right now.”

“He’s extremely qualified from an Xs and Os standpoint,” said Campbell, a teammate of Kingsbury’s for three years. “And then on top of that is his personal charisma and his ability to connect with players.”

Campbell said he witnessed that — and a standing ovation — when Kingsbury introduced himself to his new players.

Shortly before the Kingsbury shindig at United Spirit Arena, the 33-year-old coach met them for the first time at the Tech football building. Campbell said the Red Raiders, who are 7-5 and getting ready for a bowl game, gave Kingsbury a standing ovation.

“Those guys could not be any more fired up,” Campbell said.

He said Kingsbury connected with the players with a message that included words to this effect: “‘Hey look, I chose to play here, I had success here and I chose to come back. This is a place I love, a place I want to be, and I think we can have success.’

“A lot of credibility goes along with that,” Campbell said, “and it’s a really believable story. I think that’s in stark contrast to what we had before, which was a guy that really didn’t believe what he was selling.”

Tech hired Kingsbury four days after Tommy Tuberville, 20-17 in three seasons as head coach, resigned to take a job at Cincinnati.

Record-setting quarterbacks Case Keenum from Houston and Johnny Manziel from Texas A&M soared under Kingsbury’s tutelage. The questions about Kingsbury’s readiness for the Tech job stem from his being the second-youngest coach in the FBS and his mere five years as a coach.

Former Tech offensive coordinator Rick Dykes said that’s misleading in that Kingsbury grew up under the same roof as a high-school coach, Tim Kingsbury.

“You know, he brings a lot of experience,” said Dykes, a Lubbock businessman. “The great thing about Kliff is he’s grown up around football. When you’re a coach’s kid, you should get credit like dog years. Every year should be like 6 or 7 years in coaching, because he’s been around it his whole life.”

So what will Kingsbury encounter that’s new for a former offensive coordinator?

“I think the biggest challenge,” Dykes said, “will be just his ability to manage time and all the different requests he’s going to have. He’s going to be pressed, and it’s going to be hard for him, because he’ll have to tell a lot of good friends no. I think that’s the hardest thing to do in that position, because the requests that are going to be made upon him.”

Campbell and Scovell both say Kingsbury has an innate self-confidence.

Maybe he’s shown it from the standpoint of evolving his offensive ideas rather than rigidly sticking to systems that have worked before.

Kingsbury pointed out that his Houston offense led the nation in passing in 2011 and his Texas A&M offense led the Southeastern Conference in rushing in 2012.

“You’ve definitely got the spread aspect of it,” said former Tech center Toby Cecil, a Kingsbury teammate for four years. “Now, if you look at what he’s run this year at A&M, it’s kind of a little bit different than what he did at Houston. At A&M, they had some great running backs. More importantly, they had a great offensive line, so obviously you’re going to run the ball more.

“I think he’s going to throw the ball more here. But the good thing is, I think compared to this year’s Tech team we’re going to see more vertical routes, and it’s going to be a more exciting brand of football.”

When Kingsbury and Cecil played, the Red Raiders regularly shocked announcers and other teams with extraordinarily wide offensive line splits.

Cecil said he doubts those will return, even with Kingsbury.

“It’s not the same type of split that Leach does,” said Cecil, a senior vice president at Vista Bank in Lubbock. “Leach is kind of one of a kind in that aspect, having that large a split.”

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Led the conference in rushing! More vertical routes !! That combo actually could challenge for conference titles. Hallelujah, happy days ARE here again. No more bubble/wr screens that go nowhere and set up nothing. I really hope Coach Kingsbury calls his own plays!

We agree. And I think will call the plays plus even give Brewer more opportunity to check at the line which I think limited Doege. As far as Brown goes, I think Tubs had at least a small hand in making him look foolish in certain situations. Back to Kingsbury, operating a similar offense that he ran in college would certainly give him the best chance to succeed if he were to call the plays. In that regard, he had something over Leach who never played at this level.

I believe Coach Kingsbury said he would tailor his offense to his players. He said players make the offense not the plays. The A&M offense remotely resembles Leach's, in that it was a type of spread. The fact that they lead the nation in rushing is largely due to Johnny Football rushing for over 1,000 yards. I like that he wants to coach to the strength of his players, and not be stuck to the system. If he's smart he will get an OC who thinks like he does, because having to be a HC and call your own plays is not an easy task. I know he will have input, but don't try and do it all yourself. Go Tech!

No he wont run the Leach offense which is a hybrid of the Mumme and Lavell Edwards offenses with Leaches own spin, although his offense will have a Leach influence. I can see, with Brewers ability to run, there being more rushing overall than with Leach, yet probably far less than what Tuberville tried to do. People act like Leach never ever ran the ball. The pass often set up the ability to run with people like Shannon Woods and Taurean Henderson. Doubtful we'll see Kenny Williams talent wasted. The great thing is Javon Bell and, most of all Jace Amaro are back. I still think Amaro can dominate a game to the point of being able to, week in and out, beating OU, Texas, and the like.

Should be interesting. all the way around, who Kliff brings in to run the defense is my main concern,getting defensive backs and the like recruited, and the O line,his reputation should be able to get good recruits, and his hard work . With Brewer being able to run, Javon Bell, and Amaro back with the addition of others and Deandre Washington back also, ,that should help. also ,Dnt expect him to run a Leach offense, but he said he will play to the teams strengths, like I said defense is the main concern and the offensive line. dadgum it, good days are ahead.. what fun!!!!, lot to look forward to, with a coach that everyone is behind.

... 98% in agreement since last saturday, but nobody here is going to let you give Remember Houston! credit for the future of our football program. And the above-mentioned players are all Turdville recruits, and we are going to have to give him his due if we're going to be fair. And it's perfectly okay for us to have to have differing opinions and verbally spar over them, but would appreciate if you'd be honest and can the vulgarity. Guns Up and straight shootin!!! Floatlander is quite correct, CB and all o-line positions are this teams greatest needs, with DT and LB close behind. And Deandre Washington has the potential to be a better combination of Williams/Foster if he has matured and gained confidence.

Not sure where that came from. Anyway, as you referenced, the linebacking core is an area needing improvement. Will Smith didnt play well as we had expected from a very strong spring. Who knows the reason, but I theorize that, as a unit, the D didnt play well together. Thus, Smith was unable to reach his potential. Regardless of the magnitude of Tubervilles lies and, at times, ineptness, the guy could recruit. Kingsbury has material to work with. I think with the fan support of the fans and his ability to sell the players on his system(s), Im excited about about a very good season.

... the buzzword the last few days. Smith belongs on the outside not a true MLB. Our DT's are better suited as ends, our ends as LB's. We are seriously weak and undersized up the middle. And yes, honestly, have even laughed out loud at a few things you've said. Also understand why Dave/Bill want to rip your head off, you know why too. Less anger and more satire, we'll all good have fun. What was going on the last 3 yrs was destructive to morale, among fans, coaches, and players/recruits alike.

I usually respond to someone in kind (regarding bill and dave). They are pretty liberal with the insults and, more recently, the threats. Its not like I jumped on them because they were minding their own business, calmly discussing xs and os. It is in my mind all in fun. But when someone actually physically threatens on here, not knowing the individual, I find it both petty and desperate and Im more than happy to feed that feeling they have. I owe them nothing. Calling people out in that manner (threatening, like dave) is extremely juvenile and I take great pride in making him look foolish, although he needs no help.

... and your explanation. You are correct, actual violence and threats thereof have no place in civilized society. As I've noted prior, I've only been here 3 wks tops, so I'm not familiar with y'alls hatfield and mccoy, therefore I'm not qualified to opine on that. I can comment on the last few weeks. You are quite good at "gettin their goat and yanking it's chain", but your tactics (lies, hypocrisy, misquoting, not addressing pts) were immature and maddening at best. I believe we can all agree to have fun and still be honest at the same time. Truth is the basis of all good humor, and my dogs and grandchildren are not capable of witty repartee. I laughed especially hard at the last few lines of (was it yours) recounting of the minutes of the "hancers" meeting. Most of it didn't make sense to me as I hadn't been here, but a couple humorous segments show real potential. Anyway, nobody agrees on everything, but we should be able to cut-up cut-down w/o being vile and reprehensible. Guns up, and..... TTU 59 Gonad Gophers 23

... I have a request for Coach Kingsbury. Dump the "wild raider" and replace it with a no WR, two TE set with a wishbone-type backfield of Brewer, Williams, Foster, and Washington. Any of the 3 RB's could be substituted for with another running QB if you want to trick it up further!

You mean all three of you bill? "LMAO"? Still with the teenager chatroom terms, eh bill? And tell the truth bill. By "deal with", you mean having to dispute reality. And finally by "idiots", you mean realists. And, even after all this time, you gush over nashville, your hero. I dont agree with alot that Pete says, but I "acknowledge" (thats quite a word for a small mind, bill) that he can figure whos who on these threads all by himself.

... I cannot imagine what the vitriol was like 3 yrs ago, and am glad I didn't go through it. So, just for the record, my position on Coach Mike Leach is thus: a) I thought hiring him away from the Sooners was a real coup for TTU, b) he was an excellent offensive mind and OC, c) generally enjoyed his sense of humor, although I found "fat little girlfriends" more sophomoric, classless, and demeaning than the media did, d) after year 5 got more and more tired of his angling for another job every off-season, and; e) 2009 let me count the ways: 1] three straight years of sub-par recruiting due to his neglect and constantly shopping himself, 2] his holier-than-thou-bigger-than-the university attitude {see paterno, j. pa}, 3] his 4th down antics, which previously were gutsy and invigorating and made him a fan favorite; had become predictable, ineffective, and way overused, culminating in 4] REMEMBER THE HOUSTON GAME!!!!!!!, hence my Remember Houston nickname for him. Unless you were a neighbor or friend of his, by far the vast majority of callers/editorials and posts were anti-Leach/blamed him solely/past his prime/time to move on, and they were correct. He took an 11-1 2008 team to the most embarrassing bowl effort in Red Raider history, and then I heard garbage about how we were disappointed we didn't get named Big 12 champs, after Okie blew us out 65-21. That's leadership????? Aaarrrgggghhh me maties, down ye plank and off with his head. So, 2009 happens and his decisions personally cost a good team 2 games and a ton of morale!! The only mistake the (Gasp! whispered in hushed, frightened tone) evil Kh@NCEOLLOR and BORed-with-his-antics made was to offer him a 5yr $12,000,000 deal. Now everybody, set your emotions aside for a minute and think logically and professionally. You make more money than the entire athletic departments salary ( - bobby goodnight ), even though you're providing declining performance and diminishing returns. The owner of your company wants you to talk to him and explain what's going on in your department. You tell him xxxx you and @@@@ that ####, I ain't gonna %%%% do that **** &&&&. Exactly how long do you reasonably expect to keep your job ???? It's in the past and nobody has a time machine. What's the saying about "Lord, please give me ...courage ... strength ... wisdom ... serenity ...". Can't we please just let it go and celebrate "Kirby the Koachbringer", "King Kliff" and his Elf's.

Well said. You just about summed up the past 3 year battle. You just rationally explained the timeline. Unfortunately there are those that see Leach as some god that could do no wrong even though he never won anything in 10 years. These small band of people did everything they could to undermine and destroy the whole athletic program. A large majority of these people took this event to push forward their political agenda. Some but not all are nothing but left wing Democrat hacks. They hate Hance and Perry and the BOR purely on political beliefs. If there is any poetic justice in this it is that the same people that have been the biggest villains the past 3 years have just painted these fruit cakes in a corner. By hiring KK, they can no longer blame the same people for losses, bad play calling or any negative thing that happens in the sports program. They have truly been an obnoxious bunch that have frustrated at least one fan to call them out on the double T to see their manhood. Before the hire of KK these same folks were posting that Kirby was nothing but a puppet that couldn't make a decision. It was repeated over and over that Hance and the BOR would tell Kirby who to hire. Once the announcement was made that KK was hired the same clowns were coming out to chastise Hance for taking credit for the hire. These guys face the same problem and that is that making emotional post will guarantee no consistency. Hypocrite would be the proper adjective for these goobers.

... the highly forgettable, what seemed like a half-dozen-Taylor-Potts- QB-sneaks-per-game play calling that made Neil Brown's wr screens look like runnin fer glory !! Don't tell me you forgot about that display of genius ??

People wanted to blame Tubs for the bad play calling this year. A few years ago when NB was the OC at Troy, I went to see MTSU play Troy in Murfreesboro. Let me tell you. Brown called wide receiver screens till the cows came home. That is his favorite play to call. It worked pretty good in the Sunbelt Conference. After 3 years ole Neil still couldn't figure out that he was in the Big 12. If he tries that crap next year in the SEC, he will get worse results. I'm not apologizing for Tubs because I'm glad he's gone, but NB was his biggest problem.

... Don's article about Kirby hiring Kliff. Uncle kh@nce, the agreement took place in his house, and the Kingbury's consider the "evil one" friends and family. Quite the irony ! And read my post: it appears only 2 people understood it was pure sarcasm/satire. Oh well, here's hoping the level of banter gets raised a bit. It appears a couple of them may be "coming around" to an understanding that this is about rooting for the home team, and not boot-licking any one individual. Lodo and feaco appear to be off on a couple's retreat, and his-facts-aren't-really-true- facts is a longhorn faithful trying to make up for a pathetic network that even big orange piles of bovine doodoo won't pay to watch.

Along and about 2005 and 2006 I posted under the moniker "Red Grange" on these very threads. I was the "hancer" back then, in that I bashed Leach similarly to the way I bashed Tubby. And I got slammed much like the hancers do today. I was highly outnumbered just like the current hancers. My bashing of Leach was primarily due to the hideous defenses we had, no always, but usually. At some point I looked at the overall picture. The fans were mad dog crazy, people outside of Lubbock were interested in us for a change. We owned A&M and Nebraska, not to mention Baylor and K-State. The patsy teams we played, we routinely hung 60 and 70 on as it should be. Earlier nash mentioned that Tubs was wrongly taking the blame for Neal Browns play calling. I tend to think hes wrong about that. But lets say he isnt. He still kept Brown on the payroll. Still, after everything, some remain Tuba apologists. Astonishing. Back to my criticizing Leach. I would have been more critical of Leach about shopping himself around, however, there was no proof he did so with the exception of spring 2009 when it looked as though the university was not going to renegotiate his contract. To read the comments of some hancers, that was something that occurred after every season he spent in Lubbock, although there was no proof that was a correct statement. Later, when the rumor circulated that Tubs might be interested in Miami, the hancers leaped to his defense contending "thats what coaches do" or "coaches are nomadic" or "so what, Leach did it". I despise hypocrisy. Then, as Pete mentioned, the insinuation that Leach cursed Hance out. Again, no proof. Its what the chancellor alleged. The disdain for the chancellor may have political roots with a few. However, the vast najoroty of Tech fans (who happen to be conservative republicans) dislike Hance because of the highly unpopular decision to fire Leach and crawling into bed with Craig James, not Adam, to do so. Again there apparently are still Tubs apologists. After the blatant lie immediately after the Kansas game. And the unforgivable leaving recruits At the steak house, a stunt bashed by even the staunchest hancer sports radio jockies. Its all a matter of proof of reality and truth, which hancers have little to none of. Thus they are left to arm themselves with insults, wild eyed baseless accusations, and the twisted notion that if one criticizes the chancellor, they cant possibly be a Red Raider fan. The only common ground he hancers have with the majority of fans is the Kingsbury hire. So, Pete, when you refer to some "coming around", I sincerely hope you mean regarding the Kingsbury hire and not supporting the chancellor because I dont see that all.

... rooting for the TEAM, of which Coach Kingsbury is now an current part thereof, is our common endeavor. Support of the kh@nceollor would fall under the position of "boot licking any one individual". You are still letting your emotions override your understanding of the printed word. Nowhere have I ever said I endorse his politics or approve of all aspects of his job performance. Quite the contrary, I've stated that Coach Leach "got a raw deal" and that nobody, including me "liked the way that deal went down". And I have not used the term "Leacher" all week, yet you continually spout "hancers" even though you stated you'd do otherwise. Hence your dishonesty is confirmed by your own actions, not my words. And why does the mere mention of his name equate with supporting his every word and deed in your mind ?? If that's the case, YOU are his biggest supporter!! Did you even bother to actually read and understand what I said?? No, you did not, you read something you didn't 100% agree with and you slid into an emotional tailspin and lost control of your faculties again. And you misinterpreted my implication. I have read comments this week by thrash, wazoo, witchita, and yes, you too, this week coming out in support of the TEAM. I didn't mention anyone by name because it's not my place to put words in anybody elses mouth, you do enough of that for us all. I was hoping that you were a Red Raider at heart, but it seems you're still hell-bent on some misguided crusade to purge west Texas of true fans. Let go of your anger and hatred. You can't accept a compliment or olive branch if it only comes with 99.9% of your approval. What a miserable and lonely existance: I pity your plight and will pray for you.

Its as if you were right here in the room with me. Your clairvoyance is remarkable. Its interesting that you claim my reluctance to deduce your meaning when, obviously you completely missed mine and, at the same time bobbed and weaved past an explanation of the ambiguous statement of the oft alleged, yet unproven profane outburst by the former coach toward the chancellor. If that statement in your post was "tongue in cheek", it didnt appear to be presented as such. Nor did the allegation that, post 2005, the former coach "continuously shopped himself" and neglected recruiting in the process. A. largely unproven, yet commonly used allegation by those who have chosen to side with administration. If I pointed fingers, in my last post, it was only meant for you unless the shoe fits. Finally, you did use the phrase "coming around", when, judging by your assertion Coach Leach "got a raw deal", my impression would be that you "came around". Or, perhaps neither of us did. Chances are very high we misjudge each other. Additionally, statements like "Leach got a raw deal" will get you labeled a Leacher by a few on these threads.

Since December of 2009 we've been fighting the Scovell, Hance, Tubbs, Bailey etc wars......let's quit it okay?

Who cares now.....it's over and done with. Come on Float, Coyote, Al, Bill, find another thread or change your comments.

I do believe that in spite of all the vitrol on this site all of us only have and have had one thing in common: to see the Red Raider football team compete with pride and be competitive. We also want a head coach that we can be proud of, someone who represents Tech in the manner we would like.

We have never had a coach like that before, at least not in my memory. Our coaches have either been "good ole boys" with their corny sayings; JT King/Spike Dykes. Some had curb appeal; Steve Sloan and David McWilliams. One was a game winner/great recruiter and had decent curb appeal; Jim Carlen. Rex Dockery; who remembers or cares? Jerry Moore? A nightmare. Leach was a brilliant offensive mind and we all came to understand or expect his weirdness. At least his teams, mostly, were fun to watch and I do know that November 1, 2008 was an experience I'll never forget. But he wasn't the right one either.

My point: if we give Kliff the necessary learning curve and some time, we'll have finally achieved the complete package: a good coach who has curb appeal and will be a fine representative of our school. It will be fun to watch Tech compete again.

No one cares who on this site is a birther, a Hancer, a Tubber, or whatever. And, whoever it was that wrote that disgusting reply to Suzy should be ashamed of himself. I agree with her; no more mention of the Scovell's on the blog please.

In passing, Tubbs you old pine box devil you......thank you for giving the Red Raider Nation the best Xmas present we've had in a long time. Maybe you've finally landed somewhere you'll be successful. I never bought into your lies; I knew all along you were using us as a way to get back into coaching. And what you pulled at the restaurant the other night is beyond despicable.

I completely agree, its time to let bygones be bygones. Ive been a Red Raider FAN for well over 50 years, seen a lot in all those years, and a lot of changes, I think of all the hires ,this one is the best by far,of Kliff Kingsbury, I think and what I have seen so far he will ignite the base ,something that I dont think anyone else, can do at this time, so,I will leave out the negative and accent the positive, we alll need to let it go, and I mean everyone, from Hance on down and not make snide remarks about the Leach fiasco,that does not help,one bit..it is time to move on and finally enjoy being a Red Raider Fan and Alumni .. lets all sign a truce, what you say.???

Tuberville leaving was a blessing in disguise, we now have a coach that everyone will get behind.I cant recall ever,, full page ads being taken out in todays AJ welcoming the "KING." and that is going back a long ways,my friends. I do wish old Tubbs the best, dont wish bad on anyone, everyone leaves their own legacy, Tubbs did not leave a good one here, especially at the very last,it was low class of him to do that to those young men, and listening to him on the Dan Patrick show, he didnt help himself. having said that, WREC EM TECH... BEAT THE GOLDEN GOPHERS.!!!

i would love that. In fact we have begged for these 4-5 to drop hance, leach, and the BOR. It has no place on this sports thread. At some point they have to let it go. I just dont think they're capable. We will see.

Why stop there? Lets just agree to not mention anything in the past about Tech football. That includes no mention of Dave Parks or EJ Holub or Zach Thomas. Lets not mention Jim Carlen. Certainly lets leave out Michael Crabtree and Wes Welker, as they were a part of "that" era. And no mention of the Tuberville era. Lets just all agree that this is the inaugural year of Texas Tech football. But to leave out only the things that make bill214 uncomfortable seems petty and partial to bill because hes special. There may be those out there who would rather not remember when Gabe Rivera played, lets not ever mention him again. Its all about you bill.

No one is saying that we should ignore our football past; however I do think we need to move on from December of 2009. It does no good to constantly hash and re-hash this. This was a very painful thing for all Techsans and no doubt even if we could get Urban Meyer to come coach here someone would find something to [filtered word] about.

I prefer to delete the past 3 years to my personal File 13. No I'm not pretending it didn't happen; I prefer to look to our future which I do think is incredibly bright.